Olympia 2024 - Snoop Dogg did it: with a torch through Paris
France in Olympic Fever: Until August 11th, athletes and athletes from all over the world will compete for Gold, Silver, and Bronze at the Summer Games in Paris. German athletes also have medal hopes. The competitions are under massive security measures: Over 40,000 security forces will be in action for the Opening Ceremony alone.
Find all Olympic news here compactly at stern:
26th July: In golden sneakers: Snoop Dogg as Torchbearer in Paris
Warning, no joke or cannabis reference follows. Under the cheers of his fans, Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic Flame through the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis – in a white sports suit and golden sneakers. Visibly moved, he distributed kisses to the spectators. The rapper from California has often commented on sports events for television, and he is covering the Olympic Games for the US broadcaster NBC.
26th July: Arson attacks on railway tracks – two show jumpers turn back
Arson attacks on several facilities of the French high-speed train network on the day of the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris had only minor effects on the German team. Two show jumpers had originally planned to travel to France with the Eurostar train in the afternoon for the Opening Ceremony, but they turned back due to a significant delay and missed the Opening Ceremony.
"That's too bad, but we would have been too late," said show jumper Philipp Weishaupt: "There was no chance anymore to make it in time." Weishaupt and his colleague Christian Kukuk got off in Liège, both returned to Riesenbeck.
Reserve rider Jana Wargers wanted to board in Brussels, but gave up due to the train delay. Only Richard Vogel will attend the Opening Ceremony, as he flew to Paris. "He made it right," commented Weishaupt. The show jumpers have their first competition day on August 1st.
25th July: German handballers lose opening match against South Korea
Germany's handballers made a disappointing comeback after 16 years at the Olympic Games. With a partly dismal performance in the attacking game, the selection led by Bundestrainer Markus Gaugisch lost their opening match against South Korea with a score of 22:23 (10:11) and missed a big step towards the quarterfinals. In front of around 5000 spectators in Paris, Antje Döll was the best scorer for the DHB team with six goals. The team is under great pressure in the coming group matches.
25th July: Man arrested in France on terror suspicion
One day before the start of the Olympics in Paris, a man was arrested on terror suspicion. The 18-year-old had contact with another man who had been taken into custody on Tuesday, the national anti-terror prosecutor's office reported. Both were suspected of planning "violent actions" during the Olympic Games, but the prosecutor's office did not comment on media reports of specific attack plans. The investigation is ongoing to determine how far the plans had progressed.
## 25. July: Argentina protests after disputed equalizer
Following the turbulent Olympic football tournament opener with the disallowed equalizer after a long wait, Argentine football coach Javier Mascherano expressed strong criticism. "What happened on the pitch was a scandal," the 40-year-old stated after Argentina's 1:2 loss against Morocco in Saint-Étienne. "They checked one and a half hours of play." Argentine superstar Lionel Messi also reacted and posted on Instagram an emoji with wide-open eyes and wrote, "Unusual."
The match to start the Olympic football tournament in France ended chaotically. Argentina had scored the supposed equalizing goal in the 16th minute of injury time. However, Moroccan fans stormed the field in anger over the long injury time, preventing further play. There was long uncertainty whether the match had been ended or only interrupted. Additionally, the goal was reviewed by the video evidence for a possible offside position.
24. July: Macron welcomes Celine Dion for opening ceremony
French President Emmanuel Macron wishes for singer Céline Dion as a star guest at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday in Paris. It would be "a great news," Macron (46) told TV broadcaster France 2, "because she is a great artist." Speculation about a performance by the singer, who suffers from a rare autoimmune disease, has been ongoing for days. The 56-year-old is currently in the Olympic city. "Apparently, she has arrived in Paris," Macron said. However, he did not want to reveal further details about the opening ceremony to maintain the surprise effect.
24. July: Canadian tried to spy on New Zealand footballers with drone
New Zealand has lodged a complaint with the International Olympic Committee over a drone incident during the training of the women's football team by Canada. During the training session on Monday before the first match between the two teams in the Olympic tournament in Saint-Étienne, a drone was observed and reported to the police. The Canadian Olympic Committee confirmed that a non-accredited member of the coaching staff had been arrested by the French authorities. The Canadian Olympic Committee expressed "shock and disappointment" over the incident. "We sincerely apologize to the New Zealand football team, all affected players, and the New Zealand Olympic Committee." The incident and further steps will be discussed with the IOC, organizers, and FIFA.
23. July: German basketballer Schröder and judoka Wagner carry the German flag
German basketball player Dennis Schröder and judoka Katharina Wagner carried the German flag during the Parade of Nations at the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris on Friday. Schröder, who plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA, and Wagner, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, proudly represented their country in front of a packed crowd at the Stade de France. The Parade of Nations marked the official start of the 2024 Olympic Games.
23. July:
Olympic Hopeful Bauer Receives Lost Bow Replaced
German athletes are a medal hopeful in archery at the Olympics in Paris. However, an important piece of equipment went missing during travel. Now, the wait has come to an end: Archery athlete Katharina Bauer has finally received her equipment a few days before her competition. "Wohooooo, look what arrived in the night... My bow", the 28-year-old medal contender wrote on Instagram after anxious waiting.
Bauer arrived in Paris on Monday without her equipment. The archer had traveled from Munich, where, according to her statement, there were issues with loading her gear onto the plane due to a lack of personnel. She missed her first opportunity to familiarize herself with her bow at the Olympic competition venue in Paris as a result.
European champion Bauer from Raubling is already among the candidates for medals with the German women's team, who had already won the World Championship title.
Snoop Dogg Carries Torch at Olympics
"Drop it like it's hot" ("Let it fall like it's hot") is one of Snoop Dogg's hits. Now, he has a special role at the Olympics that he shouldn't take too literally. The American rapper is to carry the Olympic torch through Paris before the Opening Ceremony. He will be one of the torchbearers in the suburb of Saint-Denis on Friday, where the Olympic Stadium is located, according to the mayor of the district, Mathieu Hanotin, who spoke to the French news agency AFP.
Other torchbearers include the French actress Laetitia Casta, the French rapper MC Solaar, and the former Ukrainian pole vault record holder Mykytych Bubka. Snoop Dogg will also comment on the Olympics for the American broadcaster NBC. The Games begin on Friday and last until August 11.
The Olympic torch traveled close to two months through France. On Friday, the torch will be carried through the Athletes' Village before being taken to the Olympic Stadium.
Olympic Entry Denied – Dauser Only Competing on Two Apparatus
Five weeks after his severe upper arm injury, Barren World Champion Lukas Dauser will only compete in a reduced program. In the qualification on Saturday for the team finals and all individual decisions, the 31-year-old from Unterhaching will only compete on his special apparatus and on the floor. "I'm glad that everything is going well now and I'm ready to compete on the floor and on the bar. That's the maximum I can do, more I can't." Dauser said.
## 22nd July: Basketball Spectacle in London – USA defeat Germany
Dunks, Threes, Blocks: The Olympic trial became a basketball show. World champions Germany missed the surprising coup directly before the Olympics in a big basketball spectacle. Against Olympic champions USA with superstar LeBron James as captain, the team lost closely in London with a score of 88:92 (41:48). The 19,177 fans in the sold-out arena in London saw a few days before the opening of the Olympic Games everything that basketball has to offer. Schröder (13 points) and Co. held their own again, as they had done in the previous year at the test in Abu Dhabi and at the WM. However, this time, the individual class of the team around US flag bearer James (20 points), Stephen Curry (13), and Anthony Edwards prevailed.
At the Summer Games, the USA are considered an undisputed gold favorite. Germany wants to win the third medal in three years after the EM bronze in 2022 and the surprising WM triumph in Manila the previous year, and coach Gordon Herbert wants to give the DBB team an ideal farewell. For the DBB team, the preliminary round begins in Lille on Saturday (13.30 pm) against outsider Japan. The USA are challenged right at the start on Sunday (17.15 pm) by Vice-World Champions Serbia and NBA star Nikola Jokic.
- In preparation for the Olympic Games, German basketball player Dennis Schröder, who currently plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA, and judoka Katharina Wagner proudly carried the German flag during the Parade of Nations at the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris.
- Reserve German show jumper Jana Wargers planned to travel to Paris for the Opening Ceremony with the Eurostar train, but due to a significant delay, she had to turn back, while teammate Richard Vogel flew to Paris and attended the ceremony.
- Representing Germany in archery at the Olympics in Paris, medal hopeful Katharina Bauer faced an issue with her equipment during travel, but after anxious waiting, her bow was finally replaced a few days before her competition.
